The president of the New York Public Library, Anthony Marx, pleaded guilty Friday to driving while intoxicated during an appearance in Manhattan Criminal Court.

Judge Jennifer G. Schecter removed Marx's license for six months, fined him $500 and sentenced him to attend a defensive driving program, enroll in 16 sessions of counseling with a counselor certified by the state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services and install ignition interlock devices in his vehicles.

His blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit — .19 percent — according to the criminal complaint.

Marx declined to comment on his sentence but referred to a statement he had released after his arrest: "I deeply regret embarrassment caused to my family and to The New York Public Library. My focus now is on moving forward and assuring that this incident does not detract from the important work and goals shared by all my colleagues."

A statement from the library read: "The New York Public Library is satisfied that the incident has been resolved and looks forward to the important work ahead for Dr. Marx and the Library."

The New York native who grew up in Inwood and attended the Bronx High School of Science was the president of Amherst College in Massachusetts before he became the library's president this past July.

Marx will appear in court next on February 15 for a compliance hearing.

WNYC 93.9 FM and AM 820 are New York's flagship public radio
stations, broadcasting the finest programs from NPR, PRI and American Public Media, as well as a wide range of award-winning local
programming. WNYC is a division of
New York Public Radio.